You know that feeling when you're driving with the windows down and a song comes on that feels like a literal hug from the universe? That’s "These Are Days." But honestly, if you search for natalie merchant these are the days, you’re actually looking for a song by her old band, 10,000 Maniacs. People mix this up all the time. It’s understandable because Natalie’s voice is so distinct—that rich, husky vibrato—that it basically became the identity of the band before she went solo and gave us Tigerlily.
"These Are Days" isn't just some 90s relic. It’s a moment in time.
The Story Behind the Shimmer
Released in August 1992, "These Are Days" was the lead single from the album Our Time in Eden. This was a weird, bittersweet era for the band. Natalie Merchant had already given her bandmates two years' notice. She was leaving. Imagine being in a room, recording what you know is your final masterpiece with people you’ve played with since you were 17.
The song was co-written by Natalie and the late Rob Buck. He provided that jangly, sparkly guitar work that sounds like sunlight hitting moving water. It’s folk-pop, sure, but there’s a muscularity to it. It hit No. 1 on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart in late 1992, right around the time Bill Clinton was elected. There was this weird, collective sense of hope in the air, and this song became the unofficial anthem for it.
Why the Lyrics Actually Matter
Most people think this is just a "happy" song. It’s not. Not really. It’s a song about the impermanence of happiness.
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"Never before and never since, I promise, will the whole world be warm as this."
That line is heartbreaking if you really listen. Natalie isn't saying life is always great; she’s saying right now is a miracle that will never happen again. It’s an instruction to pay attention. She uses the second person—"you"—to pull you into the frame. You aren't just listening to her sing; she’s telling you that you are blessed and lucky.
It’s kinda bossy, in a beautiful way.
The Unplugged Factor
If you’re a certain age, you don't picture the music video with the grainy film and the fields. You picture the MTV Unplugged stage. 1993. Natalie in a simple dress, spinning in circles, looking like she’s in a trance.
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The MTV Unplugged version of natalie merchant these are the days is arguably the definitive one. Without the studio polish, you hear the "shaft of light" she’s singing about. It’s raw. That performance was one of the last things the band did together before the big split, and you can almost feel the weight of the coming goodbye in the way she dances.
The Misconception: Is it a Solo Song?
Technically, no. But Natalie has owned it for decades. When she tours now—most recently supporting her 2023 album Keep Your Courage—she still brings these songs out. But they’ve changed.
In 2015, she released Paradise Is There: The New Tigerlily Recordings. While that was focused on her solo debut, the documentary she made alongside it talked a lot about "re-visioning" her past. She doesn't sing "These Are Days" the same way at 60 as she did at 28. How could she? The "May rushing over you" hits differently when you've lived through more winters.
Cultural Legacy and 90s Nostalgia
Why does this song keep popping up in movies like Cheaper by the Dozen or wedding playlists? Because it’s safe but deep. It’s "middlebrow" in the best way possible. It’s literate pop music that doesn't treat the listener like an idiot.
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The 90s were full of angst—Nirvana, Alice in Chains, the whole flannel thing. Natalie Merchant and the Maniacs offered a different kind of rebellion: the rebellion of being earnest. It was "cool" to be cynical back then, but "These Are Days" was a defiant shrug against that. It said it’s okay to feel the "miracles in every hour."
Actionable Takeaways for the Fan
If you're looking to dive deeper into this specific track or Natalie's work from this era, here is how to actually experience it:
- Listen to the "Our Time in Eden" version first. Notice the percussion by Paulinho Da Costa. It’s subtle, but that Brazilian rhythmic influence is what makes the song "tumble" forward.
- Watch the MTV Unplugged footage. Don't just listen to the audio. Watch Natalie’s face. She’s famously shy (she used to sing with her back to the audience in the early days), but here she is fully present.
- Compare it to "Beloved Wife." If you want to see the range of her songwriting, go from the joy of "These Are Days" to the devastating grief of "Beloved Wife." It shows that her optimism isn't cheap; it’s earned.
- Check out her 2023 work. If you only know her from the 92-95 era, you're missing out. Her voice has deepened, gotten richer, and her newer arrangements are orchestral and lush.
The magic of natalie merchant these are the days is that it grows with you. It’s a song about a moment, but it’s lasted for decades. You’ll know it’s true.